Making music - Youth Music Team
The Nambucca River Salvation Army Youth Music Team (pictured right) was formed in 2009 by then 12-year-old Alexandra Viles in order to bring contemporary worship to children’s church on Sunday. Although Alexandra has since moved away, the Nambucca River Salvos Youth Music Team continues, with Tandeka Ndebele the lead singer, Madeline Scott playing brass, Paris Briggs on the keyboard and Reese Briggs on the drums. The group not only leads worship on Sunday mornings for Kids Church, it also plays at Salvation Army youth events.
The following article first appeared in The Salvation Army's Creative Ministry magazine in January 2013 (Photos: Shairon Paterson). Since then, Alexandra Viles has moved away, and new team members have been added to the band. Major John Viles now serves as The Salvation Army's Territorial Youth and Children's Ministry Secretary, and his wife, Major Nicole Viles, serves as The Salvation Army's Youth and Candidates Secretary in the Greater West Division.
Heart for Worship drives Alexandra's vision
They are young, enthusiastic and bringing worship to their generation. ESTHER PINN speaks to a dynamic youth music team from the northern NSW town of Nambucca Heads
Alexandra saw a need and filled it. Arriving at Nambucca River Corps in 2009 with her parents, Captains John and Nicole Viles, she was disappointed to find there was no worship time during children’s church. Instead of sulking or looking to others to lead the way, Alexandra took some initiative and started up a kids’ music team. The team has now been leading worship in children’s church every Sunday for the past three years.
This innovative leader is only 12 years old. “I love getting up there and jumping around, singing praises to God,” Alexandra exclaims.
Starting with only three girls, who are all passionate about both worship and singing, the group has now expanded with Alexandra’s 
brother, Jacob Viles (11) joining the team to play the drums. Madeline Scott (10) plays bass, Paris Briggs (11) plays the keyboard and Alexandra leads the group vocally.
“They love it,” enthuses Captain Nicole, Nambucca River Corps Officer. “I think certainly the girls have leadership gifts. They do it very naturally.”
Captain Nicole believes this team to be vital to growing their corps children’s ministry and she expects her corps to take them seriously. And they do.
Twice a year, the kids’ music team leads worship for the entire corps alongside the 20 or so children who attend Nambucca’s children’s church.
“The corps love it. They welcome it with open arms and they’re so encouraging of it,” says Captain Nicole. “I believe this team can shape their Sunday School. All four of them really have a heart for God and they want their church to be a place where kids connect with God, where kids can get involved and feel like it’s their church.”
Captain Nicole says Alexandra has really driven the program and has an ear for picking up Christian themes in secular songs.
Alexandra explains to Creative Ministry why she loves worship.
“I like that through the worship of songs you can learn so many
stories and Bible verses. An example of that is when [my] mum was preaching the other day on Jeremiah; she was reading out the Bible verse, Lamentations 3, and the first thing Paris and I did was begin singing the song Steadfast Love of the Lord.
Along with singing a number
of contemporary worship songs such as Super Saviour and I Am Free, Alexandra says she uses Count on Me, by secular artist Bruno Mars, because the song has Christian- themed lyrics.
The success of this team is spreading like wildfire. For the second time, the kids’ music team was given the opportunity to lead worship at The Salvation Army North NSW Divisional Kids’ Camp in September.
“In 2010 we led the worship at kids’ camp and ever since then,
we couldn’t wait to go back. I love seeing everyone jumping around and singing how great our God is,” shares Alexandra.
About 72 children attend the camp at Echidna Gully, about 20km from Armidale, and Lieutenant Narelle Unicomb, North NSW Divisional Youth Secretary, says it is always a huge success.
“I’d love to get them back. I love that young people are leading young people. It’s actually training them to be worship leaders in their corps.”
